We-Tip Information Pays Off in Riverside
Unified School District Burglaries

Riverside, Ca- On June 8, 2005, Riverside
police detectives, school resource officers, and problem oriented policing
officers assigned to the Central Neighborhood Policing Center, responded to
information received from We-Tip. The tip contained basic information on the
possible whereabouts of some of the Riverside Unified School Districtís (RUSD)
stolen property taken during nine separate burglaries that occurred at four
schools.

Detectives Jim Lopez and Pat Young were able to develop the information, which
led to a search of an apartment located across the street from Ramona High
School. The search recovered stolen property from Ramona and Arlington High
Schools, Sierra Middle School and Gage Middle School. The search also resulted
in the recovery of a RUSD master key, which explained the lack of evidence of
forced entry. Six other residences, located both within the Riverside city
limits and adjacent jurisdictions, were searched and resulted in the recovery of
more stolen property. The estimated cost of the recovered stolen property far
exceeds the initial $15,000 mentioned in the May 28th Press Enterprise newspaper
article.

Seven present and former students of RUSD were involved in this series of
burglaries. Their ages range from 15 to 17 years old. Most of the juveniles were
arrested, interviewed and released to their parents pending a Juvenile Court
hearing. The juveniles are going to be charged with burglary, conspiracy to
commit burglary and possession of stolen property.

Detectives are still looking for some of the stolen property and are asking the
public to assist in returning any property received from the juveniles involved
in this series. Anybody that has suspected RUSD stolen property can contact RPD
Detective Jim Lopez at (951) 320-8009.